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Now the Department of Health, together with the Home Office and the Care Quality Commission and in partnership with NHS England, has identified 23 priority targets for the 10 police forces.

Mental illness is not a crime – we want to end the scandal of people in crisis being unnecessarily locked up in a police cell

Jeremy Hunt

They are working with organisations signed up to the Crisis Care Concordat – a national agreement between services and agencies involved in the care and support of people in crisis.

A joint letter from Home Secretary Theresa May and Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt is being sent to Crisis Care Concordat groups in those areas inviting them to bid for funding to deliver new, innovative places of safety.

This will allow people experiencing a mental health crisis to receive compassionate care in the right setting.

Local organisations, including health trusts, local authorities and the third sector will be able to bid for funds to design new, innovative “safe places” so people get compassionate care.

While there has been a steady decrease in the reliance on police cells as places of safety for those detained under the Mental Health Act, experiences still vary considerably across the country.

The 10 force areas where Crisis Care Concordat groups will be invited to bid for funding in the first instance are Avon & Somerset, Cleveland, Derbyshire, Devon & Cornwall, Essex, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, South Yorkshire, Sussex and West Yorkshire.

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Venues designated a place of safety can include hospitals, care homes and even cafes

The Home Secretary said: “I have always been clear that people experiencing a mental health crisis should receive care and support rather than being held in a police cell.

While progress is being made, in some areas there is still a long way to go to improve outcomes for people with mental health needs.

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People experiencing a mental health crisis will receive compassionate care

“We are legislating to ensure a police cell is truly a last resort for vulnerable people suffering mental health crises.”

Mr Hunt said: “Mental illness is not a crime – we want to end the scandal of people in crisis being unnecessarily locked up in a police cell.”

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Local organisations will be able to bid for funds to design new 'safe places'

The sister of a junior doctor whose body was found off the coast of Dorset last month has set up a fund raising campaign in her memory.

Hazel Polge, whose sister Rose disappeared in February, started an online donation page in the hope that it can help “prevent such tragedy” happening again. More than £4,000 in donations has already been raised.